The Thing Lenny Loves Most about Baseball - by Andrew Larsen (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Lenny loves baseball. And not just playing baseball -- he loves reading about it, too. Lenny thinks the more he knows, the better he'll play ... and he needs all the help he can get! But it's not until he comes across some interesting information in his Big Book of Baseball Facts -- Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron, two of the best hitters in baseball history, failed most of the time! -- that Lenny realizes his odds are pretty good! With renewed determination and lots of practice with his dad, Lenny sets out to play his very best. He knows he can be great some of the time. And maybe that will be good enough. That's the thing Lenny loves most about baseball."--

Book Synopsis

Andrew Larsen evokes the eternal hope and joy of all true baseball fans -- along with their love of facts -- in this heartwarming story about a baseball-loving boy who doesn't give up.

Lenny can't get enough of baseball. He loves to play. And he loves to pore over his Big Book of Baseball Facts. He wants to be in the big leagues someday, and, he figures, the more he knows, the better his chances. The only thing is, though he tries to keep his eye on the ball as it heads his way during a game, it somehow ends up by his feet. "You just need to practice," his dad tells him. So they practice. And practice. Lenny doesn't give up. And it pays off. Lenny makes a game-changing catch! Now he's proven he can be great some of the time. Which, according to the facts, makes him just like the greatest Hall of Famers, right?

In this endearing picture book, bestselling author Andrew Larsen celebrates the love of both the game of baseball and its countless facts -- which for many fans go hand in hand. It offers a strong character-building portrait of perseverance and patience at work in skill development. It also underscores the importance of letting go of the idea of perfection. With energy and emotion in equal parts, Milan Pavlovic's illustrations capture Lenny's (and baseball's) highs and lows, and his loving supportive relationship with his father.

Review Quotes

... this is an inspiring example of the value of cultivating a growth mindset where practice pays off ...--Booklist

A good counter to the insistent, invidious message that winning is all that matters.--Kirkus Reviews

This motivational tale ... will remind readers that improvement requires persistence.--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Andrew Larsen is the acclaimed author of such books as Goodnight, Hockey Fans, A Squiggly Story, The Not-So-Faraway Adventure, In the Tree House and The Imaginary Garden. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Milan Pavlovic is an illustrator and graphic artist whose drawings, illustrations, paintings and comics have been published and exhibited internationally. He teaches at OCAD University and Seneca College. He lives with his family in Toronto.